Cartilage Damage - CENTRE FOR ORTHOPAEDICS, SPORTS MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION - Dr. Erich H. Rembeck

Cartilage Damage

General points for cartilage damage

Cartilage damages, which originate after injury, are mostly constrained to a local limited position. Larger cartilage damages are due to chronic wear and tear. With cartilage damage we need to call upon the newest techniques. The therapy is in most cases promising. Depending on the extent of damage, weight-bearing of the affected leg is again possible after between 6 and 10 weeks.

Cartilage Damage Treatment

Firstly the extent of damage will be diagnosed with an MRI Scan or possible also with arthroscopy. In order to be able to evaluate the exact extent of the damage, MRI scanners with the newest equipment and highest resolution are necessary.

Alongside the cartilage replacement operations (micro fracturing, abrasion, bio-prosthesis, cartilage shaving) is a cartilage transplant the therapy of choice. For this, cartilage cells are taken from a low weight-bearing joint region and cultivated for 2-6 weeks in a special culture medium. In a further arthroscopic minimal-invasive operation, the so-called cartilage spheroids (consisting of autologous cartilage cells) will be placed on the cartilage defect – there they begin to synthesise new cartilage substance after a short period of time. Through this the biological valuable hyaline joint cartilage is achieved. After approximately 6 weeks the patient can weight-bear again and after half a year recommence sport. Especially for these cartilage transplantations, it is extremely important to adhere to a precisely undertaken after-care programme. The special requirements for the cartilage rehabilitation will be implemented in the ECOS-Reha-Centre due to year-long experience. The monitoring by a rehabilitations trainer is necessary for several months so that you will able to undertake sport after half a year.

Conservative, non-operative therapy

Many knee problems do not require surgery, but can be treated in the form of conservative methods. Physiotherapy and physical methods belong to these methods as well the taking of medication or the injection of various substances into the joint. Insole treatment, selection of shoe materials, observation of weight, dietary supplements, as well as special exercise programmes are essential components of conservative therapy.